The purpose of this site is to collect and share the stories of American men who were subject to the Vietnam war draft lotteries in the years 1969 through 1972. During those years, the Selective Service used a lottery to determine the order in which draft age men would be called up for duty, usually in Vietnam. Many who received a low number were drafted or chose to enlist. Others went to any extreme to avoid being sent to fight in the unpopular war. Either way, choices prompted by the lottery often shaped the entire course of a young man's life.

If you are one of the millions of men who were subject to the lotteries, we want to hear from you (SUBMIT STORY tab). Also, you are welcome to read the stories of others affected by the lotteries (BROWSE STORIES tab); or read a short history of the draft lotteries (LOTTERY FACTS tab); or follow links to other resources (LINKS tab); or read the list of top ten well-known draft avoiders (TOP TEN tab).

To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1969 draft lottery, an article about the lottery, including excerpts from stories on this site, appeared in the February 2010 issue of Vietnam magazine, a publication of the Weider History Group. The article is entitled "Live From Washington--It's Lottery Night 1969!" It can be accessed at www.historynet.com/live-from-dc-its-lottery-night-1969.htm.